The Era of Tang and Song Dynasties

Primary Source Analysis

Document: Ties That Bind: Paths to Power

Author – Who created this? What do we know about the author? What might influence their opinions?	It was created by a Tang author named Nui Su. The thought is of a local functionary named Wu Bao wants to win a high official’s appraisal and gain advancements in the imperial bureaucracy by sending him a letter. Bao is probably biases since he wants to be advanced; only speaking of good things of the government. He is baises towards himself.
Place – Where and when was it created -	It was created in the Tang dynasty. It was created in the time period of 626 to around the ten century, does not have a precise date or location but it was probably on the farther parts of the empire.
Prior Knowledge What do we know about where this was created? What have we learned about this topic? Society that may be relevant?	The number of scholar-gentry rose in the Tang and Song societies far above the Han Levels. People of peasantry could be promoted into high bureaucratic offices by passing specialized exams by the Minster of Publics Rites. Exams of Confucian classics and Chinese literature. Additional exams were given to the eligible to be ranked in office. The central administration was dominated by a small number of prominent families. Birth and family connections remained important for gaining high office, having a bigger influenced over merit and ambition.
Audience Who is the intended audience? How might they receive this? – quotes to support your claims?	The letter is intended for the high official. As someone to be admiral, respectful- that’s what he feels in his heart Bao considers the official with high abilities/ good leader.- He has outstanding talents in his service Bao sounds kind of like a desperate man longing for a better job. - He is happy with any salary.
Reason for Creation What is the purpose of this document? Read between the lines, support claims with a quote	Wu Bao creates this letter in hopes that he will get a better job in the imperial bureaucracy for merit. - He states that thought he is poorly fitted to be a selected official post. -He does not care if gets pay little money. - He will work as long as possible until retirement comes with old age.
The Main Idea Support with quotes	(It shows how birth and family relations play a major role in gaining high office. In the letter, the high official is the nephew of the prime Minster with “outstanding talents”. The letter later speaks of a General Li who seems of higher qualification. He is said to be a great civil and military forces with full command of expedition. ) How the placement exam is not placed as a high valued- Bao states himself that he has lower talents in classics than other men, but he will commit to being his worker. System connections are more important than the ability.
Significance How does this relate to the big picture? What can it tell us as historians? Relate to ESPIRIT if possible	It shows government corruption. Ideas were not followed; Bao did not take a placement exam but yet won the advancement of the official. Such events would cause problems in the government system. Nowadays such corruption is punished. It relates to the political topic since this is how officials were elected. Social classes. 

Questions? How often were letters such as Bao sent to officials? And accepted? Were women able to

Tang and Song China

Tang	Song	Shared
Economical Wendy Taxed alike portion of their crops Surplus of crops were brought market in time of food shortage Yandzi strength Yangzi Empresses peasants and slaves buddhism Emperor Wezond revoked the taxtion wai vierse Political Tang revived bureaucracy by establishin the Minstry of Rites. Department og eccitives. Jinshis were scholar. Tang biggest. Intellectual; Unified art and strutural formation, Dugong Focus on science and literature, Monk Yixing (Merridian line) Diamond Sutra first printed Literature The Tang poems religions Neo-confucian merge Confucianism, Buddhisn and Daoism Dominant religion Buddhist and effected docial life. spread through the silk roads and canals. Empress Wu was religion. Interactions and Technology Removed Explosive powder, abacuc, block. coal, and kites Odometer, pound lock, pagodas, revolving book cars, quilling Wheel, movable type printing, paper money factories.	Tang Paper money Banks Emperor economical distressBureaucarcy flourished most bureaucracts high pay little work Scholar-gentry richCanal build flourished Urban growth Protected women economic Gonvernment controlled trade Junks to trade Flying paper, credit in Chinese cities Song Dynasty: Only ellected officals were governors, no military power (prevent collapse, weaken, governors were from different regions) (Tried to stop collapse) Civil services exams: Three levels: district, provinicial, and imperial. (Minstry of Rites: less strict) Weaken Recive Confusioan Ideas and recover neglected text. There were imperial libraries Schools taught philosophies with Daoisn and Confucianism Buddhism attackedc Confusian and Doaist rivals. Confucian scholar-administrator posed challenge imperial orders. Emperor Wuzong was supported In was weaken after in the 19th and 20th century. Liao dynasty Emperess: Buddhist paintings and scultures. (Cast of Bronze and metalwork) Curved roofs, canal builging and gun powder Woodblock prints, clockwork, and wooden statutus	Crop increase market Helped both economies flourish Both had civil exams Intellectual: Revive the civil service examination (Different levels) canals building Revivaled Poetry and writing Insight to technology art higher class: Zen Buddhism Lower class: Pure land Buddhism Removed power Wendi: Marriage, aid in expansion Wei Gain power economic Revolts against the dynasty Tradition Nomads important, The Mongols, Great Wall Neo-Confusianism limited interaction, more isolated. Xenophobia, China is the best (Vitnam Barbarism) Expansion and trade lots of exports and less imports Dikes and dams. Bridges, Chinese Junks, and Wheelbarrows.

The Tang dynasty had lead ideas to the Song dynasty. The Song and Tang dynasty had flourished bureaucracy. In the Tang dynasty bureaucrats work take civil services exams, by Ministry of Rites, those passed would have power in government. The bureaucracy was broken down into the regional, providential, and local level. It weakened the aristocracy because it supported the creation of the scholar-gentry class. Family ties and connections were more important than merit and ability to getting a government job. In the Song dynasty, many people passed the exams and led to an over populated scholar-gentry class. The were well paid but had not much to do. The Song Dynasty wanted to expand and improve the ideas of the Tang. The Song wanted to create a government that wouldn't collapse under like the Tang did. In both societies flying Money was credit voucher that acted as money and used in trade to lessen robbery. Chinese junks were ships, allowing both dynasties to trade through canals and grow.In the Tang dynasty, Empress Wu widely spread Buddhism Therefore, Buddhism was split into pure land (low class) and Zen (high class) Buddhism. Later Empress Wuzung destroyed all Buddhist shrines and monasteries re-taxing them. Neo-Confucianism was a blend of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. With Neo-Confucianism beliefs, it lessen interactions with other countries since China saw them selves as superior, but merchants and trading were still left. China had exported many goods, but knowledge and a few goods were imported. Both, Economical were agricultural based. The Tangs had a surplus of crops for markets and granaries. The Song people favored and went to agriculture, instead of urbanization Both the Tang and Song dynasties valued family ties, laws like th Tang Laws severely punished the disobedience to the hierarchy of the elderly. During this time there was a push for educational reforms. Women were widely subjugated in both societies. Women had to bind their feet when they were young often confining them to home. It was more common in the upper class. Political and social marriages were used to create alliances. Also, foot binding limited mobility for women. The libraries containing thousands of book were used to reform education and religion. Schools were built with philosophies. The Tang dynasty created the first book, Diamond Sutra. Both dynasties started realistic painting styles, painting sceneries and change. This era of change is known as the 'Chinese Renaissance because it was a revival of old Chinese beliefs and forms of art. Poetry and literature played a big role in society. Explosive weapons cause China to conquer with gun power and explosives. The Song dynasty defensed against nomadic tribes was important because the Liao Empire over took him. Nomadic invasions are very important throughout history, the Song Dynasty was over taken by the Mongols and the Great Wall was used to keep Mongols out.

EES